Air humidifier



Jan. 23, 1934. DOHERTY 1,944,411

AIR HUME IIII ER Patented Jan. 23, 1934 oFFICE AIR HUMIDIFIER George D. Doherty, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Doherty-Brehm Company, Minneapolis,

Minn, a corporation cf Delaware Application March 22,

1926, Serial No. 96,487

Renewed June 9, 1930 Claims.

My invention relates to air humidifiers and it has special reference to that class of devices which are capableof automatically moistening I and dampening the arid air of a room, by reason v may substantially simulate a mist upon heating elements thereby causing vaporization of such moisture that the air of the room, home, office, -etc.,,in which the device is employed, is very considerably and eifectively humidified.

One object of my invention is to provide a device which will substantially prevent any possibility of aridity in a room or oflice in addition to efiectively relieving any suchconditions.

Another object of my invention is to provide an air humidifying device which is capable of employment at the will of the operator.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which, notwithstanding its moistening and dampening effects, will not injure or affect the walls, floor, or nearby objects in the room or enclosure, in which it may be employed.

A further object of my present invention is the provision of means which, in addition to their p protection affording characteristics, are adapted 30 to dispose of any excess moisture whichgis not vaporized. Other objects will appear from the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims. Heretofore, whether steam heated radiators, hot water radiators, or electrically heated elements have been employed, there has necessarily 'ensued, as a result of their performance and employment, aridity in and about the heated room or office in which the device is being employed. Hence, for sanitary and hygienic reasons, such conditions must be relieved and effectually removed. 7

My present invention, in a very simple manner and at economical cost, accomplishes all of the above set forth objects which manifestly and inevitably result in the desired correction of the insanitary and unhygienic dryness of the air.

The accompanying drawing illustrates two forms and applications of my invention, in

Which' Figure 1 is a front view in elevation, and partially in section, of a form of my invention in association with a unit of radiator heating coils;

' Fig. 2 is a side elevational View partially in section, taken at right angles and to the side of the center of the unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar side elevational View, partially in section, taken at right angles and to the side of the'center oi the unit illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the heating coils or radiator unit in association with another form of my invention; and f f Fig. i is a perspective View of the housing and jet nozzles or atomizers embodied in the form of my invention shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, a radiator unit 10 comprises a numb-er of heating coils 11, which may be the ordinary hot water or steam type, and which receive the hot'water or steam through a pipe 12. Suitably attached to the radiator unit 10, is a screen of sheet metal or other suitable material 13, which may be preferably constructed into baffle plates 14 (Figs. vl and 2) and 15 (Fig. 3), and into drip pans 16 (Figs. 1 and 2) and 17 (Fig. 3). These'bafile plates i l and 15 are preferablynarrower than the width of the radiator unit 10 and are preferablytaller in height. They are disposed so as to partially enclose a portion of the radiator unit 10, viz., all'but the two outer or extreme coils, preferably in the manner indicated in the draw ing.- Howevenit is not essential that the bailie plate 14 and drip pan 16, be constructed of the same piece of sheet metal or other material, as it may be desirable to construct them separately. At an opening 18 and securely fastened to the drip pan 16 by suitable means 19, is a sewer drain 20, which is provided to dispose of such water or moisture as may settle into the drip pan 16. Through another opening 21 in the drip pan l6 and secured thereto with a watertight connection by means of washers or other suitable means 22, a pipe 23 is disposed which may preferably pass midway up and between the radiator heating coils l1 and is then bent outwardly, substantially as shown. At the uppermost end thereof a housing or rear casing 24 and a jet nozzle or atomizer 25 may be suitably fastened.

This jet nozzle or atomizer 25 is adapted to emit a spray of moisture. It is desirable that jet nozzles or atomizers be employed which are capable of spraying moisture in the form of a mist. This jet nozzle or atomizer is contained Within a housing or funnel 26, which is adapted to confine the spray emitted by the jet nozzle 25. It is desirable that the housing 26 be arranged in close proximity to the radiator heating coils 11.

til

In Figure 4, a housing 27 encloses two jet nozzles or atomizers 28 and 29 and is positioned in close proximity to the radiator unit 10, by means of supports or other suitable fastening means 30, the hooks of which engage the radiator unit 10 at 31, substantially as shown. Attached to, or otherwise suitably, arranged with, the housing 2'7, is a guard or shield 33, which is disposed to closely border the projecting surfaces of the radiator heating coils 11.

The apparatus embodying a form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 has a bafile plate 15, a drip pan 1'7 and piping arrangement 23, also a casing 24 for the atomizers 28 and 29 and a sewer connection 20, all mentioned in connection with that form described above as being illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and which may be operated in precisely the same manner. Means 34 may be put in pipe 23, to control the fiow of the water through the pipe 23 to the jet nozzle or atomizer 25.

Water, supplied to the pipe 23 by any suitable means passes through the pipe 23 to the casing 24, and thence into the atomizer or jet nozzle 25 which emits such water, in moisture form, in a conical spray. The jet nozzle furthermore directs such spray which is substantially a moisture mist, against the coils 11 of the radiator heating unit 10. The housing 26 confines and houses such spray, serving to participate in its proper application against the heating elements 11 by further directing and applying such portions of the spray as may come to the sides of the housing. The radiator unit 10, when heated, vaporizes the spray which, in such vaporized form, ascends and by reason of its circulation in and about the room or office, moistens the air thereof thus removing or very considerably minimizing the aridity of such air. However, if there be no aridity, it necessarily ensues that by reason of employing my invention in the first instance, such vaporized moisture, in. ascending concurrently with the heat radiated by the heating coils l1, prevents the possibility of any harmful condition of aridity arising.

The baflle plate 14 which, as above described, is preferably disposed to shield the rear of the radiator unit 10, and which may encase a portion of the rear surface of the unit, manifestly lies opposite the housing 26 and serves to protect such walls or objects as may be positioned nearby from the vaporized moisture which is vaporized by the radiator unit 10. The baille plate 14 further serves to assist in the proper mixing of vapor and air for the reason that it is instrumental in directing the mixture upward and outward. The baflle plate 14 similarly protects the said objects from the injurious effects of the moisture which passes through the radiator coils l1 and escapes vaporization. It serves to stop the unvaporized moistures passage and causes such moisture to pass down its sides and settle into the drip pan 16. This drip pan 16 in addition thereto receives such other moisture as clings to the radiator heating coils 11 and which subsequently passes down the sides thereof. The sewer connection 20 is adapted to remove such collected moisture from the drip pan 16.

In Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that the housing 27 is provided with two jet nozzles 28 and 29. This illustrates the type of humidifier which may be associated with larger radiator units.

Another protective feature which may be used, if desired, is also shown, namely, the additional protective guard 33 for the front of the radiator unit 10. v

I have found that the association of my device with heating elements in no wise affects or lessens the heat radiated by such element and thus it is apparent that I have provided a device which assures humidity, a condition which is in conformity with sanitary and hygienic requirements.

While I have shown two forms of my invention, it is obvious that it may be practiced in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and consequently it is understood that I desire to be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the U. S. is:

1. The combination of radiator heating coils with an air humidifying apparatus comprising a funnel-shaped housing, a jet nozzle adapted to direct a spray of moisture upon said radiator heating coils and disposed within said housing at the converged end thereof, a source of water supply for said jet nozzle, a baffle-plate positioned at the rear of said radiator heating coils and extending slightly beyond the top thereof, and a pan provided with a sewer connection lying beneath said radiator heating coils, said housing serving to direct and confine said spray of moisture upon said radiator heating coils.

2. ,The combination of radiator heating coils with an air humidifying apparatus comprising a jet nozzle for emitting a spray of moisture, a housing in which said jet nozzle is disposed for directing said spray upon said radiator coils, a source of water supply for said jet nozzle, a baffle plate opposite said housing for confining the spray and vapor, and a pan beneath said radiator and communicating with an outlet connection for removing unvaporized moisture.

3. The combination with a heating radiator comprising a plurality of intercommunicating vertical flow fiat radiator sections secured together side by side, of a humidifying device comprising jet means for supplying moisture to the outside of said radiator sections, an upright shield in the rear of said sections extending across and adjacent the rear edges of the sections for preventing the moisture from the jet means from escaping at the rear of the radiator, and a rain receptacle extending underneath the coils for receiving and draining off the moisture flowing down from the radiator sections and shield, said jet means being in front of the radiator and directing the jet toward the radiator and shield.

4. The combination with a heating radiator comprising a plurality of intercommumcating vertical flow flat radiator sections secured together side by side, of a humidifying device comprising jet means for supplying moisture to the outside of said radiator sections, an upright shield in the rear of said sections extending across and adjacent the rear edges of the sections for preventing the moisture from the jet means from escaping at the rear of the radiator, a drain receptacle extending underneath the coils for receiving and draining off the moisture flowing down from the radiator sections and shield, said jet means being in front of the radiator and directing the jet toward the radiator and shield, and a housing for said jet means in front of said radiator.

5. The combination with a heating radiator comprising a plurality of intercommunicating vertical flow fiat radiator sections secured together side by side, of a humidifying device com- 1,944,411 prising jet means for supplying moisture to the outside of said radiator sections, an upright shield in the rear of said sections extending across and adjacent the-rear edges of the sections for preventing the moisture from the jet means from escaping at the rear of the radiator, and a drain receptacle extending underneath the coils for receiving and draining off the moisture flowing down from the radiator sections and shield, said shield having vertical side flanges extending forwardly into the space between adjacent radiator sections.

6. The combination with a heating radiator comprising a plurality of intercommunicating vertical flow flat radiator sections secured together side by side, of a humidifying device comprising jet means for supplying moisture to the outside of said radiator sections, an upright shield in the rear of said sections extending across and adjacent the rear edges of the sections for preventing the moisture from the jet means from escaping at the rear of the radiator, and a drain receptacle extending underneath the coils for receiving and draining off the moisture flowing down from the radiator sections and shield, said shield having an extension at its upper end extending forwardly above the upper ends of the radiator sections.

7. The combination with a heating radiator comprising a plurality of intercommunicating vertical flow flat radiator sections secured together side by side, of a humidifying device comprising jet means for supplying moisture to the outside of said radiator sections, an upright shield in the rear of said sections extending across and adjacent the rear edges of the sections for preventing the moisture from the jet means from escaping at the rear of the radiator, a drain receptacle extending underneath the coils for receiving and draining off the moisture flowing down from the radiator sections and shield, said jet means being in front of the radiator and directing the jet toward the radiator and shield, a hous ing for said jet means in front of said radiator, and an upright plate extending downwardlyfrom said housing across the front of the radiator for preventing the moisture from the jet means from escaping in front of the radiator.

8. The combination of radiator heating coils with an air humidifying apparatus comprising a funnel-shaped housing, a jet nozzle disposed within said housing and emitting a spray of moisture upon said radiator heating coils, means for supplying water to said jet nozzle, a bafile plate positioned at the rear of said radiator heating coils and extending in a curved manner slightly beyond and over the top of said radiator heating coils and extending underneath said radiator heating coils, said housing serving to direct and confine said spray of moistureadjacent said radiator heating coils and said bafile plate serving to prevent escape of moisture of spray.

9. The combination of radiator heating coils with an air humidifying apparatus comprising a housing, a plurality of jet nozzles adapted to emit a spray of moisture against said radiator heating coils disposed within said housing, a plate suspended from said housing and covering the front of said radiator heating coils, a plate positioned at the rear of said radiator heating coils and extending slightly beyond and over said radiator heating coils, a pan lying beneath said radiator heating coils, said housing serving to confine the spray of moisture upon the radiator heating coils and said housing, and plates preventing escape of moisture of spray and assisting in the ascension thereof in vaporized form to the air.

10. The combination of heating elements, with an air humidifying device comprising a housing having an opening for exposing a portion of said heating elements, a jet nozzle in said housing for directing a spray of moisture through said opening of said housing against said heating elements, a pipe for supplying water to said jet nozzle, 2. receiving means provided with a sewer connection beneath said heating elements for draining the surplus water, and a baffle plate disposed at the rear of said heating elements and opposite said opening of said housing for confining the portion of said spray passing beyond said heating elements.

GEO. D. DDHERTY. 

